Executive Turns Down Mother And Her Cubs

CHICAGO — It began not long after the start of spring training, immediately after the Chicago City Council passed its ordinance.

''When's the first night game?''

Don Grenesko, the Cubs' chief of business operations, quickly grew so weary of the question that, instead of greeting reporters with something appropriate like ''Good morning, noble ladies and gentlemen of the press,'' he began greeting them with a question:

''When's the first night game?''

It became quickly evident to Grenesko, top aide Mark McGuire and everyone else connected with the Chicago National League Ball Club Inc. that they were about to be swept up by an event of overwhelming public interest, if not cosmic importance.

Then came the announcement of the Aug. 8 date. That's when it really started getting silly.

Don Zimmer's phone answering machine greeted callers with a suitable hello, followed by: ''and I ain't got no tickets for the first night game.''

''I'm hearing from people I went to grammar school with,'' said John McDonough, the club's marketing director.

''Everybody,'' Rick Sutcliffe said. ''Friends, family, people I used to know -- and some people who said they didn't know me, just wanted to know if I had any.''

Rafael Palmeiro got a call from a limo service, offering a free night's use of a limousine in return for an Aug. 8 ticket.

''I heard from people I ain't heard from in 10 years,'' Zimmer said. ''A friend of mine said the other day that a guy called him and said if he could get a ticket, he'd pay $1,000.''

But McGuire, whose job title is vice president, business operations, wins the Are You Kidding? prize.

''I turned my mother down.''

You what?

What did she say to that?

''You won't do it for your mother? I know you can do it.''

And you said?

''I probably can do it. I won't do it.''

Neither Frank Sinatra nor President Reagan can do it, either, despite early reports to the contrary. There was speculation that Sinatra would sing the national anthem and that the president, a former Cubs radiocaster, would either throw the first ball or the switch.